While we’re all talking about Coronavirus COVID-19 and trying to understand the pandemic to fight it better, it is best to avoid public places and stay indoors. And since I had a lot of free time in my hand while being 24*7 at home, I researched about the deadliest of pandemics in history. After reading all about them, I am sure as hell freaking out! If you wanna join the party too, then scroll down to read about the 5 worst pandemics the world has witnessed.
1. Flu (1918)
Lives Claimed: 20-50 Million
This deadly outbreak of influenza was a complete disaster, infecting more than a third of the world’s people. 25 million lives were claimed in the first week itself. Usually, influenza outbreaks affected children, senior citizens and the immunocompromised the most. But the 1918 Flu was hitting the fully healthy and young adults the worst. At the same time, sparing the children and the weak-immuned alive.
2. HIV/AIDS (2005-2012, At Its Peak)
Lives Claimed: 36 Million
HIV/AIDS was first identified in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since 1981, it has taken the lives of more than 36 million people and proven to be one of the worst global pandemics. As of now, nearly 31-35 million HIV affected people are living. The worst-hit region is Sub-Saharan Africa where nearly 21 million people are infected. But since more awareness has grown about HIV/AIDS, it has helped develop new treatments through which many of the infected people lead productive lives. And the annual global deaths due to HIV/AIDS has dropped to 1.6 million from 2.2 million between the years 2005 and 2012.
3. Asian Flu (1956-1958)
Lives Claimed: 2 Million
In two years, the Asian FLu spread from China to Singapore, the United States, and Hong Kong. It was a pandemic outbreak of Influenza A of the H2N2 subtype which originated in 1956 in China.
4. Flu (1968)
Lives Claimed: 1 Million
You might know it by the name ‘the Hong Kong Flu’ that was caused by the H3N2 strain of the Influenza A virus in 1968. The first case was reported on 13th July 1968 and within 17 days it spread to Singapore and Vietnam. Then, it only took less than three months to spread to India, Australia, The Phillippines, the United States, and Europe. It had killed approximately 15% of Hong Kong’s population at the time.
5. Sixth Cholera (1910-1911)
Lives Claimed: More Than 800,000
Just like the previous five incarnations, the next one i.e. the Sixth Cholera Pandemic too started in India. After killing more than 800,000 people in the country, it began to spread in the Middle East, Russia, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. By the time it was 1923, the number of Cholera cases decreased massively, but in India, it was still a constant.
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